An Indian restaurant in downtown Roanoke has closed, and a Thai food eatery is moving in.
Thai Orchid is taking over the former space of Swagat Indian Cuisine on First Street.
Thai Orchid was forced to vacate its previous downtown location on South Jefferson Street when the Jefferson Motor Lodge site was sold late last year and ultimately closed. Thai Orchid had operated at the lodge for less than a year.
The motor lodge since has been demolished, and there are plans to build a structure to house Social Security Administration offices in its place.
The owner of Thai Orchid, Richard Sarayudej, told me that he considered opening an eatery in Norfolk, where some of his friends reside. But he couldn’t find a location there.
And the Swagat space in downtown Roanoke opened up. This restaurant apparently closed several months ago, but the reason is unclear.
Sarayudej said Thai Orchid should open by July. Currently, he’s cleaning up and adding new tables inside this space, which he is renting. Tong's Thai is another downtown thai restaurant on Salem Avenue.
Also in downtown, not too far from the planned Thai Orchid, the Orange Dog has closed on Campbell Avenue. But it’s supposed to reopen by July, according to owner Thomas Gardner.
Gardner said he’s in the process of selling the eatery to a franchisee. Gardner still owns the Orange Dog at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke, and he said he planned to eventually open up the chain to franchisees.
“It’s tough running multiple locations,” he said.
Orange Dog, a hot stand with a long history in the Roanoke Valley, sells hot dogs, sandwiches and related fare.
Comments
[June 4, 2008 2:15 PM]
SarahJenny, Do you any idea of what is going on in the former spot of Quizno's on the market?
[June 5, 2008 7:39 AM]
JennyHi, Sarah, Yes, an oxygen bar and restaurant is supposed to be opening there. The owners were doing some renvation work there, but lately, I haven't seen much activity at the site. They had hoped to open soon, so I need to check with them about their plans.
[June 5, 2008 10:54 AM]
bethAn oxygen bar in Roanoke. That's a winning idea!
[June 5, 2008 3:43 PM]
JayJenny-there has been a lot of work done to the exterior of the old "Harvest House" Restaurant at the intersection of Williamson and Plantation near Hollins. In the window is an illustration of two people dancing and the name "Watusy's" painted on. Any idea what that space is turning into?
[August 14, 2008 9:11 PM]
AdowntownbusinessA sign in the window at the Campbell Avenue Orange Dog said it would be opening again on the 18th.